Terminal cap



Patented ocr. 21, 1930 UNITED sfr-.11stes PATENT orifice MARTIN B- ROUT, OF CICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoRro ixnr'moeciC swI'rcmaoARn sUPrLY COMPANY, oroHIeAeo, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or ILLnvoIs apliicauon mea :une 27, 192%. yserial No. 2111,5es.

My invention has to do with terminal connectors, and more particularly to terminals suitably secured to a supporting means or cap to which electrical conductors may be convenientlyattached, and which cap may be detachably connected to terminals 'of the heater element of a thermionic tube of the alternating current type.

A- thermionic tube lof a well known alternating current type comprises in general a glass envelopfprovided with a stem in each extremity. RThe upper stem permits the egress of the filament or heater leads which are in turn connected to a pair of studs carried in an insulating base or cap secured to the upper extremity-of the glass envelope. These studs provide means for connecting a suitable low voltage alternating current source to the heater element to cause the same `to energige for purposes well understood. An object of my invention is to provide a suitable terminal o r connector cap provided with terminal means for engaging the terminal studs of the tube to carry the current from '25 an alternating current' source to, theheater element.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a terminal cap supporting a pair of spring terminal clips which ermt the terminalcap y to be readily -detacha ly secured to the tube, the said terminal clips providing simple and efficient means for-securing conta-ct with the studs of the tube, and at the saine time serving as means for holding the cap in position against displacement.

Another feature of my Invention is the Qprovision of a pair of spring terminal clips supported in the terminal cap or connector and the novel means in the form ofspring-mem- 410 bers integral with the termnalclips for securi-ng the same in the terminal cap against displacement.

A further provision of means for protecting the termi'- nal screws of the terminalcap tofwh/ich'the l which are carried in the ca' 4, provide means' bus wires areconnected. The above features as Well asfothers .will

be fully described in the ensuing specifica-.1

' L voltage to heatlthe same.

- tionand in the appended claims. For a more complete understanding ofmy parts and in which,

` trate its position on the cap of the thermionic terminal clips supported ing, a thermionictube of the alternating curfeature of my invention is'the' invention; reference may be had to the accoml panying drawing vin which like reference characters in theseveral views denote like Fig. 1 illustrates a thermionic tube of the alternating type in-elevation with the terminal cap of my invention ositioned thereon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of ig. 1.

Fi 3 is a left side elevation of Fig. -1 showing only the upper portion of the tube.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the terminal cap of my invention. Fig. 5 is a view simil-a1` to Fig. 1 but showmg the terminal cap in section to clearly illustube.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line of Fig. 1 and clearly illustrates how the spr1n`g terminal clip is supported in the terminal cap.,` and the spring means integral with 70 the terminal clip for engaging a terminal stud connected to the heaterelementof the. thermionic tube, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofone of the in the terminal cap of my invention. i

Referring now more in detail' to my invention as illustrated in the accompanying draw'- rent type with which the terminal cap of my invention is associated, in general comprises a glass envelope A provided with a stem-ih each extremity The upper stem permits egress of mthe' heater orfilament leads which are conf, nected to studs 2 and 3 secured to an insulat- 86 ing cap 4 which is secured to the upper extremity of .the Aglass envelope A by cementing the\ same thereto.; The lower extremity of the/glass envelope has cemented theretoan f i sulating base`5'which carries the studs -6 to 00 v w 'ch the other elements of-the thermionic tubgare connecteil'for purposes as are well u liderstoodfp. :The studs 2 'i ndf towhich the-heater el e ment leads of the tubes are connected and `for corpiectiiig the heater .e ement ofthe tube to ana Vternatrng source ,of current of suitable The termin l cap or connectorC of in- 1061 vention vcomprises an inverted 'cup shaped portion 9 of suitable molded insulating material and is of a size to permit the same to fit ove-r the cap 4 secured to the upper extremity of the glass envelope A of the tube. Diametrically opposite portions of the wall 10 of the cup portion 9 are provided with integrally formed laterally extended portions 11 and 12 forming square pockets 11 and 12. The walls13,44 and 15 which form the extended portions 11 and 12, extend upward from the base 16 of the cup portion 9, and square openings ,17 extending through the base 16 of the inverted cup portion 9 are adapted to permit the entry of the spring terminal clips S and S within the square pockets 11 and 12 formed by the'laterally extended portions 11 and 12. The said spring terminals are adapted to make contact with the terminal studs 2 and 3- in the cap 4 when the terminal cap C is positioned on the said cap 4 of the tube.

The-spring terminal clip S of the present embodiment of the invention which is typical v of both is formed of a blank of suitable sheet metal and comprises a substantially square base 20 having a pair of integrally formed members-21 and 22 depending from opposite sides there-of, and each extremity of the members 21 and 22 is provided with a tab 23 bent ;at right angles to the members 21 and 22.

rIhe other two opposite sides of the base 20 are provided withrdepending tabs 26 and 26 at right ,angles to the said base 20. A por- Y tion of the metal of each of the depending ,members 2l and 22 is shaped by means of a shearing and forming operation into a pair of converging spring arms 27 and 28 the` free ends of .which in turn extend slightly out-v ward.

To insert a spring vterminal clip S as above described into the pocket 11 formed by the laterally extended portion 11 of the terminal cap C the reeends of the depending members 21 and 22 which diverge slightly are flexed until the free ends of the same may be inserted between the projecting walls14 and 15 above the base 16 of the cup portion 9. The spring terminal S when thus positioned may now be forced down through the square orifice 17 until the tabs 26vand 26 engage respectively the ol'set portion 30 in the inner face 31 `of the wall 13 of the extended portion 11, and

the face 16 of the baseof the cup portion 9 adjacentto the edge of the orifice 17. At the Isame time the angular tabs 23 on thel extremities of the depending -members 21 and 22 are i'nalignment. with notches 32 in the bottom edges 33 in` the walls 14 and 15 of the portion 11 and the tension of the depending members 21 and 22 under which they were placed dueA `to the -flexure of the same as before described now forces the tabs 23 into the aligned notches 32. The tabs 26 and 26 engaging respectively the oi'set 30 and the face 16 -in proximity to `the edge of the orifice 17, and the tabs 2 3 en-V varrasar;

U shaped laterally extended portion 12 of theV terminal-cap C in aI similar manner.

To position the terminal cap or connector C on the cap 4 of the,` tube with its spring. terminals S and S in engagement With the respective terminal studs 2 and 3, the inverted cup shaped portion 9 of the cap C is placed over the cap 4 with the terminal studs 2 and 3 carried thereby extending into the U shaped extended portions 11 and 12. As the cap C is moved down the spring arms 27 and 28 of the respective spring terminals S and S are engaged by the respective studs 2 and 3 forcing them apart against their normal tension. The continued downward Y movement of the terminal cap C causes the studs 2 and 3 to pass the humps 35 in the respective spring arms 27 and 28 of the terminals S and S producing a snap action and the free ends of the arms 27 and 28 now engage theterminal studs 2 and 3 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The cap C is held in a fixed position against displacement 'on` the cap 4 of the tube by the action of the spring arms 27 and 28. but at the same time may be readily removed as is apparent from' the above description. The bases 20 of Jthe spring terminals S and S are provided with tapped orifices which are adapted to receive screws 36 by means of which the conductors from an alternating current source may be secured.

The bus wires connected tothe spring clips S and S by means of the screws 36 are generally insulated exceptv at the point where the wire connects to the spring. clips. So as to protect the base4 portions of the wire where they 'connect' to the spring clips, and the spring-clips themselves from being s hort circuited or contacting with foreign articles, the walls 13, 14 and 15 extend considerably beyond the plane of the terminal screws 36.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have provided a terminal connector which is provided with terminal clips that hold themselves in position by their spring action and which yieldingly Contact with the terminal studs of the tube cap by means of their spring actlon.

While I have shown a specific form of connector, it is obvious that my invention is sus ceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore I desire to cover all such modifications and changes as come within 'the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to States Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described insecure by United hollow cylindrical central portion, contact spring members within said cap member, means in said cap member and means integral with said spring members engagingv said meansv inl said cap member for retaining said slpring members in position. f

2. device of the characterl described including an inverted cap member, laterally projecting members integral with said cap member, terminal contact spring members within said projecting members, and means integral with said spring members for re'- taining said spring members in said lprojecting members.

3. A device of the characterl described including van inverted cap member, laterally projecting members integral with said cap member forming pockets, terminal ,contact spring members within said pockets, and Tneans integral with said spring members for retaining said spring members in said pockets.

4. A terminal cap of the character described including electrical contact' spring devices, laterally projecting members integral with said cap forming pockets for receiving said spring devices, and depending members for said, spring devices provided with anguf larly extending' tabs'for engaging means in said cap member for Ilretaining said springI devices in place.

5. A terminal cap ofthe character de 1 scribed including terminal contact spring devices, laterally projecting members integral with said cap forming pockets for receiving said spring devices, 'depending members of said spring devices having portions shaped to form spring arms to electrically engage terminal means, and means integral Awith said depending members for retaining said spring devices in said pockets.

cap

nal cap formed of 6. A terminal cap of the character described including contact spring devices, laterally projecting members integral with said forming pockets for receiving said spring devices, devices having portions sha ed to form spring arms to engage terminal contacts, notches in the rim of said terminal cap, and

angular tabs on said .depending members adapted to engage said notches 'to retain said v spring devices in said pockets.

7. A connector device including a termiinsulating material having l a-pair of integrally formed laterally, extending'members and an intermediate hollow cylindrical portiom'electrical contact means adapted to be supported by said members,

said Contact means including spring means v integral therewith forholding theisame in position relative to said insulating member,

. and spring means for yieldingly contacting i:r with contact connectors.

depending members of said springv laterally protecting members formed of insulating material, electrical,l contact' means adapted to be supported by said proj ecting iiisulating members, spring means integral with said contact means in position relative to said insulating member, spring means'integral with said contact meansvfor yieldingly contacting with con-t tact connectors, connecting means for securcontact means, and

ing conductors toA said l with said projecting means formed i tegral insulating member for protecting said contegral. with said spring contact means coop-A erating :with means in said member adapted to secure said contact means to said insulating member by spring tension and adapted to make contact with the electrical connectors of said cap, by spring tension. Y

8. A connector device including a terminal y cap having a hollow cylindrical portion and for holding the same 10. A connector cap having a cylindrically l shaped member of insulating material provided with integrally .formed extensions supporting spring contact members, spring means integral with said contact members and cooperating with means in said extensions to maintain said contact members in said extension, and a member adapted to it into said cylindrical member, and outwardly extending Contact. members adapted to engage said spring contact members `of said insulating member.

11. connector cap having a cylindrically shaped) member of insulating material profor said member vided with integrally formed extensions supj l porting spring contact members, spring means integral with said Contact members and cooperating with means in said extensions to maiptain said contact members in said extensions, and a member adapted'to fit into said cylindrical member, and out.

wardlyextending contact members for said member adapted to-engage said spring contact members of said insulating member, con.- necting means for securing conductors to said spring contact members, said connecting means being located within said integrally formed extensions of said cylindricalmem- Y Y ber to protect said' connecting means.

12. A connector terminal comprising a spring terminal and an insulating member having a. laterally projecting integrally formed extension adapted to receive said spring terminal, integrally iormed means for said spring terminal forv contacting with means in said insulating member to prevent movement of said spring member relative to said insulating member.

13.V A device of the character described includinga cap member having integrally* formed laterally extended portions provided with orifices, and self positioning spring contact members fitting into said recesses.

14. A device of the character described including a cap member having integrally formed laterally extended portions provided with orifices, and self maintaining spring contact membersv tting into said recesses.

Signed by me, at Chicago, county of Cook andState of Illinois, ,his 24th day of J une;

MARTIN B. GROUT. 

